Sleepers, Studs, Notes and more…Everything you need to know about the
upcoming D-II basketball season is here.

If Division II could be described in one word, the utterance “loaded” would ring loud. We would be hard-pressed to find a year where there was this much talent and so many quality teams.

Furthermore, the Southwest part of the state could actually have its own state tournament with the amount of excellent teams and talent in that area. Cincinnati Taft, Dayton Dunbar, Dayton Thurgood Marshall, Cincinnati Aiken, Trotwood-Madison, Kettering Alter, Dayton CJ, and Franklin would be a nice eight-team tournament. This isn’t even mentioning teams like Indian Hill, Valley View, Cincinnati Hughes, Cincinnati McNicholas, Dayton Meadowdale, and Graham.

The Southwest part of the state wasn’t the only place affected by the new enrollment figures. Central Ohio will be brought up a notch or two with the arrival of Columbus Brookhaven, Columbus Marion-Franklin, Columbus Independence, and Columbus Beechcroft. Akron East should be a major player in the Northeast and Bowling Green has to be one of the favorites in the Northwest.

Obviously, the new figures have played a huge part in the transformation of DII with several big name Division I teams dropping down. Though, and this is a rare case, a team moving up from Division III may have the biggest impact in Cincinnati Taft. This isn’t an ordinary situation or team. The Senators won the DIII state championship a year ago in dump truck fashion and will no doubt be a major contender regardless of moving up. We could even make a case for Taft being the best team in Ohio regardless of division.

With all that being said, it should be a very entertaining season with a number of teams having a chance at the big, gold trophy.

Akron SVSM was able to corral the 2011 championship and will look to repeat as champion. The Irish will try to be the fourth team in DII to do so since the four division inception in 1988. Cleveland VASJ, Cleveland Benedictine, and Dayton Dunbar are the others. DII has the most repeat winners since ’88 of the four divisions. The Irish will be looking for their record-tying seventh state championship, which would knot them with Middletown for the all-time lead.

TEAMS TO WATCH

Akron SVSM• It was another storybook ending for the Irish (19-9) in 2011 as Akron SVSM cut down the nets for the sixth time overall and fifth time since the turn of the century. Coach Dru Joyce and his Irish will be looking to tie Middletown for the most boys’ basketball state championships if they can repeat. SVSM will need to replace some key pieces including three-year starters Davonte Beard (Siena) and Ricky Johnson Jr. (Bethune-Cookman) along with Khristian Taylor and role player Aaron Carey. The Irish will have to rely heavily on senior Lorenzo Cugini (6’6) in the early part of the year until the newcomers can catch up. Cugini averaged a shade less than 15 points per game as a junior. He will be joined by fellow returning starter Victor Dorsey (6’7/So.). Dorsey has a chance to erupt this season. He is arguably the best sophomore in the state. A kid that could really turn some heads is senior DJ Blanks (6’3), who should be able to make up for some of the lost scoring. Nick Wells (6’5/Jr.) is another returning letterman. Wells is a junkyard dog type player, who is also capable of scoring when needed. Sophomore point guard Aaron Bushner (5’11) will need to step up as well and Trayvon Crater (6’4/Sr.) should play a greater role. Jarel Woolridge (5’8/So.), Franshon Bickley (5’7/Jr.), Jordan Hargrove (5’11/Jr.), and Angelo Cugini (6’6/So.) should also log minutes along with 6’10 Satchel Pierce (Jr.). Juniors Chaz Brantley (6’1), Ryan Gaffney (6’3), and Robby Dambrot (6’0) round out the varsity unit. SVSM lost nine games last season against one of the best DII agendas in the state. The Irish will play Garfield Heights, Columbus Northland, Gateway (PA), Lakewood St. Edward, Warren Harding, Cleveland Benedictine, Imani Christian (PA), Lake Catholic, Brush, and Buchtel along with some others.

Columbus Bishop Hartley• The Hawks (22-2) enjoyed one of the best sports years by any high school in recent years a season ago. Hartley not only made the Division II state boy’s basketball tournament for the first time since 1995, but they won the Division IV football title and the Division II girl’s state track title. The success continued into the fall once again with the Hawks losing a heartbreaker to Kenton in the regional finals on the gridiron following an unbeaten regular season. The success should continue into the winter with the return of starters Eric Siefert (6’3/Sr.) and Jacob Matuska (6’6/Jr.) along with Joe Brown (6’3) who started the first 13 games before breaking his foot. Siefert, a solid D2 prospect, averaged 12.5 points per game and knocked down 30 triples as a junior. Matuska scored at just above 10 points per game and snared 5.7 boards a night. Five other letter winners return in Brent Wahle (6’1/Sr.), Trevonn Brown (5’10/Jr.), Jordan Fair (5’10/Sr.), Kris Little (6’2/Jr.), and Jared Brandewie (6’4/So.). Brandewie is the quarterback on the football team and his father Tom (Brandewie) played basketball at Ohio State. Sophomores Chris Moxley (5’9) and Drew Onega (5’7) will be newcomers to the varsity squad. Moxley is a member of the highly touted Cincinnati Knights AAU team featuring AJ Harris, Nate Fowler, and Luke Kennard. The Hawks will have to replace to college players in Kendall Sherrod (Wooster) and De Avery Collins (Notre Dame College) along with Miami (OH) baseball player Kendal Johnson, but the winning formula is already in place so now the younger talent will have to step up. Hartley held opponents to less than 40 points in 11 of its 24 games last season. Hartley is coached by Randy Kortokrax, who is the son of the state’s all-time wins leader in Richard “Dick” Kortokrax. The Hawks will play leagues games against Bishop Ready, Columbus DeSales, St. Charles, and Bishop Watterson along with out of league games against Walnut Ridge, Toledo Rogers, Westerville Central, and Canal Winchester.

Columbus Brookhaven• A new era for Columbus Brookhaven basketball begins this year as the Bearcats drop down to Division II. Brookhaven has long been a DI power in Central Ohio, and now takes its talent down a division to become one of the clear favorites in the district. The Bearcats return plenty of talent at the guard spots in senior Khalid King (6’2), junior Randal Clarkson (5’9), junior Kevin Greenhow (6’3), and sophomore Ronnie Williams (6’3). King has committed to play basketball at North Carolina A&T, Clarkson is one of the better guards in the junior class, and Williams is a top prospect in Ohio’s sophomore bunch. The middle will be held down by 6’6 senior Jalen Poland. He won’t light up the scoreboard, but he is a very good rim protector with solid length. Look for Blake McEwen (5’5/Jr.), Malik Bush (6’3/Jr.), Terry Robinson (5’10/Sr.), and Tishawn Mapp (5’7/Jr.) to provide depth for the ‘Haven. The Bearcats were knocked out of the DI tournament by a very good Westerville North a year ago finishing with an (11-10) mark. Coach Hali Robinson’s squad will open up against a very good Pickerington Central team followed by city league games against Northland, Beechcroft, and Centennial along with out of conference encounters with Friendship Collegiate Academy (DC) and Westerville South.

Cincinnati Aiken• The Falcons (13-9) are another team dropping to Division II after a long run in Division I. Aiken will not be short on talent, but will that equal wins? The Falcons will be led by 6’3 senior Willie Moore and 6’4 junior Austin Grimes. Moore is a dynamic player and when focused can be very dominant. Grimes is one of the more underrated performers in Ohio. He averaged just below 15 points and 15 rebounds a game as a sophomore. Moore, who has signed to play at Duquesne, averaged better than 14 points, and just below 10 rebounds. Clark Montessori transfer Paul Woodson (6’7/Sr.) will certainly give the Falcons life in the middle. Michael Thompson (6’5/Jr.), Stevon Nelms (5’10/Sr.), and sophomore shooting guard Correy Cavins (5’11) will round out the top six for Aiken. Chris Carter (5’9/Jr.), Lance Primus (5’9/Jr.), Teron Long (5’11/Sr.), Leonard Dean (6’3/Jr.), and Demonte Jones (6’7/Jr.) should give the Falcons some depth. Aiken will have tough games with Taft, Western Hills, Shroder, and Withrow along with out of conferences games with Middletown, Moeller, La Salle, Indian Hill, Elder, Thurgood Marshall, and two games in Memphis (TN). Coach Leon Ellison will have his work cut out for him against this schedule, but the Falcons will certainly be tournament ready.

Bowling Green • The Bobcats (17-4) were upset in their first tournament game last year by rival Perrysburg, but Bowling Green will drop down to Division II this season and should certainly make noise. BG will have to replace the Northwest District Player of the Year in Chauncey Orr, which won’t be easy but there is still plenty of talent to go around. The Bobcat offense will be run by freshman LaMonta’ Stone (5’6). Stone’s father is an assistant at Bowling Green University. Vitto Brown (6’7/Jr.) leads the returnees. The D1 prospect will look to be more productive this year by becoming more assertive. The lone senior on the roster is shooting guard Tyler Dunn (5’10). We were able to witness Dunn knock down his first five triple attempts in a preview game against Cincinnati Western Hills this past weekend. Dunn will be joined by juniors Andrew Herringshaw (6’0) and the scrappy Evan Gardner (6’2). Brown will be assisted by junior Nolan Dill (6’7) in the paint. Juniors Quinn Donaldson (6’0), Jadon Nichols (5’9), Andrew Dennis (6’1) along with sophomores Shiloh Dotson (6’2) and Cam Casey (6’2), and freshman Mitchell Gardner (6’1) should give head coach Von Graffin a solid bench. BG finished (14-0) in conference play last season, so teams like Anthony Wayne, Perrysburg, Napoleon, and Maumee will be gunning for the reigning champs. The Bobcats will face Huber Heights Wayne, Elida, Ottawa-Glandorf, Cleveland John Hay, and Toledo Central Catholic in tough non league match ups.

Cincinnati Taft• The Senators finished last season with a (26-1) record and brought home the Division III state championship in record-setting fashion. Taft won its eight tournament games by an average of 36 points per victory including a 95-42 win in the title game over Cleveland Central Catholic. It was simply dominating and the Senators now in DII with almost the same cast of characters. Taft may not have the most basketball talent, but they are tough and together. This group of kids has been united for over 10 years on the AAU scene. Adolphus Washington (6’4/Sr.), Jalean Lowe (6’3/Sr.), Orlando Berry Jr. (5’8/Sr.), Dwayne Stanford (6’5/Sr.), and Jermaine Freeman (6’0/Sr.) have all been a part of the All-Ohio Purple program for years collecting several national championships along the way. Washington, who is an Ohio State football commit, returns as a player of the year candidate following a 23-point/16-rebound effort as a junior. He is one of if not the most dominating high school players in Ohio. Berry is a tough floor general who averaged 12 points and nine assists last season. Stanford, an Oregon football commit, was good for 13 points and nine rebounds. Lowe, a lights out shooter, averaged just over 10 points an outing and Freeman was better than nine points a night. Rasaan Jackson (5’11/Sr.) and Fred Canady (6’0/Sr.) were key bench members last season and will be counted on even more this year. Sophomore Kenny Kaufman (5’10) could also factor into the line up. Taft’s schedule is brutal with the likes of Aiken, Withrow, Western Hills, and Shroder in conference play along with the prestigious City of Palms tournament, Akron SVSM, Grace Prep (TX), Huntington Prep (WV), Westerville North, and Winton Woods.

Dayton Dunbar• The Wolverines were (20-3) last season with its season coming to an end thanks to rival Dayton Thurgood Marshall in the regional. Dunbar beat Thurgood twice in the regular season, but fell short in its third attempt. Coach Pete Pullen’s teams have been the gold standard in Division II over the last seven years winning three state championships and appearing in another. Last season, Dunbar struggled for much of the year to solidify its guard spots, and still managed to win 20 games. Fast forward to this year, and the problem has been fixed thanks to Creighton signee Andre Yates (6’1/Sr.) transferring over from neighboring Trotwood-Madison and freshman Amos “AJ” Harris (5’9). Yates averaged 15.4 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.9 steals as a junior for the Rams. Harris is rated as one of the top point guards in the country. Don’t be fooled by the goggles, the lefty can run a team and has poise well beyond his years. Yates and Harris will be a nice fit with the best three-man front court in Ohio featuring Deontae “Teddy” Hawkins (6’7/Sr.), Gary Akbar (6’5/Sr.), and Damarion Geter (6’6/Jr.). Hawkins, who averaged just below 17 points per outing as a junior, will play at Wichita State and Akbar, who was true for 11.2 points and over 10 boards a game, is headed to Cleveland State. LaQuan Archie (5’9/Sr.), Tavyonne Hunt (6’0/Sr.), talented sophomore William Green (6’0), and Dayton CJ transfer Chris McGuire (6’1/Jr.) should provide more than quality depth. The schedule isn’t quite what it has been, but it will still be more than challenging with Thurgood Marshall twice, Canton McKinley, Massillon Perry, Trotwood-Madison and Detroit Consortium Prep (MI) just to name a few.

“We have great size, quickness, and speed along with being experienced,” said Wolverine boss Pete Pullen. “Our team focus and how we adapt to each other will be the key to a successful season.”

Cleveland Benedictine• The Bengals are coming off a disappointing (12-11) campaign for their standards, but up against one of the better DII schedules in Ohio. Benedictine was very young, yet talented. This year, first-year boss Albert Wilson Jr., will welcome back four starters and a deep bench. Desmond Ridenour (6’2/Sr.) leads the list of returnees following a junior year where he averaged 18.5 points per contest. Ridenour will be joined by fellow starters Mark Williams (6’8/Jr.), football star Mike Roberts (6’5/Sr.), and sharp-shooter Winston Grays (6’2/Sr.). Both Ridenour and Williams (15.1 ppg.) are being courted by Division 1 colleges. Roberts, who has offers from the Big East and MAC for football, tallied 11.5 points per night as a junior. Juniors Wesley Parr (6’7) and Ashier Poole (6’2) are back along with sophomores Gary Williams (6’2), Tysean Powell (6’5), and TJ Steele (5’8). Newcomers Owen Riley (6’3/Sr.) and Marcus Jones (6’0/Sr.) should also contribute. Benny will play a vaunted schedule once again with Bedford Chanel, Brush, NDCL, Cleveland CC, Bedford, Lake Catholic, Akron Hoban, Walsh Jesuit, Akron SVSM, Mentor, Lakewood St. Edward, and Cleveland St. Ignatius all lined up.“We are very talented and experienced,” Wilson noted. “Our focus must be to maintain the proper perspective in regards to the regular season as preparation for the post season.”

Trotwood-Madison• In the back half of the Top 10, there seems to be a trend. Four of the five teams from (6-10) are movers from Division I, which includes the Rams of Trotwood-Madison. The Rams will be playing for the Division II state football title this weekend, so a delayed start will be inevitable. When Trotwood does take the floor, it should be very formidable once the football kids get into basketball condition. In 2011, Trotwood’s (18-6) season ended in the district finals for a second consecutive season at the hands of Cincinnati Moeller. The Rams will welcome back second leading scorer Jamar Hammonds (6’3/Jr.), who averaged 9.6 points per game as a sophomore. James Brown Jr. (6’2/Jr.) was third on the team in scoring at 8.5 lightings a night. Senior Bam Bradley (6’3) averaged 5.4 points as a junior, but is still playing football. Bradley is one of the state’s top football prospects and an All-Ohio performer. Seniors Matt Cash (6’3) and Dalin Byrd (6’5) also saw minutes a season ago. The newcomers will be two of the better sophomores in Ohio in Dezhonte Bennet (6’2) and Kendrick Mallory (6’2). Freshman Andre Foster (6’2) has the potential to be one of the best in the state in the coming years. Rian Dawson (6’4/Jr.) is another newcomer for the Rams. Trotwood went (10-0) in the GWOC North a year ago. The Rams will line up against Wayne, Thurgood Marshall, Dunbar, Troy, and two teams in the Flyin’ to the Hoop.

Dayton Thurgood Marshall• The Cougars have been on the rise for several years now, and last year was even more proof of that statement. Marshall finished the year (22-6) losing in the state finals to Akron SVSM for the second time in three years. The Cougars will need to replace guards Jordan Watson and Sam Sanders, but other than those two, the rotation is back in tact. TM would have been the Division II favorite if it weren’t for Taft’s move and Dunbar adding Yates and Harris, but this team still has the talent and depth to win it all. Senior Joe Thomasson (6’3), a Wright State commit, returns to the starting line up along with juniors Mark Alstork (6’4) and Gerry Green (6’6). Look for Thomasson to have a break out season after averaging 11.7 points per game as a junior. Alstork has really taken his game to a new level during the offseason after scoring 12.5 points a night last season. Green, who is a football standout, averaged just over seven points and is known for his physical presence in the paint. The point guard will be Edmond “Junior” Early (6’1/Jr.), who was more or less a starter last season even though he came off the bench. The final starting spot will be held by senior Joe Ballard (6’5), who is a human highlight film. Ballard is without a doubt, the best dunker in the state. The bench will be solid but young. Kris Moss (6’4/Sr.), a lefty, will be a key contributor off the pine with his ability to knock down shots. Dayton Christian transfer Rachaun Martin (5’7/So.) and Dayton Northridge move in Darren Groves (6’5/Jr.) should improve the bench along with sophomore Jamichael Blanton (6’4), Dayton CJ transfer Law Williams (Jr.), Centerville transfer Landon Brazile (6’4/So.), and Jordan Jones (5’11/So.). The Cougars will face a daunting schedule beginning with rival Dunbar. Dayton CJ, North College Hill, Findlay Prep (NV), Cincinnati Withrow, Beavercreek, Dayton Jefferson, Cincinnati Aiken, Graham, and Trotwood are all lined up on the regular season slate.

• Hawkins and Carter were 1st Team AP All-Ohio, while McAdams, Barham, and Joey Vuyancih were 2nd team. Jaaron Simmons (Kettering Alter) is back from the 3rd team. Washington was Division III 1st team and Co-Player of the Year. Monteroso was 2nd team.

• Dayton Dunbar will be shooting for its fifth state championship, which would tie it for second all-time with Columbus East.

• A repeat of last year’s four state tournament teams won’t be able to happen with Toledo Rogers moving up.